In September of 2018, Reggae Girlz star Trudi Carter realised her dream of becoming a professional footballer and was on top of the world when she signed for Italian club AS Roma.

A month later, she surpassed that achievement when she helped Jamaica to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which is set for France next month.

However, her dream of playing in the FIFA Women’s World Cup nearly crashed after she picked up a knee injury just weeks after making her debut for Roma, and with the event drawing closer, Carter grew worried that she would not regain full fitness in time to make the trip.

Four months after picking up a dreadful meniscus tear in her right knee, the skilful winger was back in training with the Reggae Girlz for the first time since their qualification in October, and the flamboyant attacker’s aim is to return even better than before with a good showing in her first game back, against Panama this Sunday, high on her list of immediate targets.

“I am coming off a meniscus tear in my right knee. It was for four months, and it’s getting better now. But before, I was worried everything wasn’t going the way it is suppose to, but now, it feels a hundred per cent, and I am ready to play again,” Carter told The Gleaner during the team’s training session at the National Stadium on Monday.

“It (recovery) was really difficult. It was my first time being out of football for so long. I never went through something like this. It was my first time doing surgery, and I never knew what to expect. But I reached out to a family member who had a similar knee injury, and he was the one who actually talked me through the process,” she revealed before sharing her fear of missing the marquee tournament.

“I was very worried [I would miss the World Cup] because this has been a dream of mine since I was a kid, and if I didn’t make it, I would have been devastated. A lot of times at nights, I prayed to come back to full fitness, and thanks to God, I am actually here now,” she said.

The crowd favourite is hoping that she can make the fans happy with whatever game time she gets on Sunday.

“Being back with the team is great. The last time I played with the [Jamaica] team was in October, and that feels like a long time ago. My friends and family will be here, so hopefully, I can put on a show for them and everyone can leave happy,” she said.

“I am a hundred per cent [fit] now, and I feel like a new player. I will take it (Panama game) ­minute by minute, and if I feel I can go more, I will push myself. It’s my comeback season, and hopefully, I can be better than before,” she commented.